Auburn coach Gene Chizik watches from the sidelines as his team suffers a one-sided loss to Texas A&M. / Butch Dill, AP

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

It's been bad since the start of September, but Saturday's loss to Texas A&M was, in a word, humiliating.

Here's another word: embarrassing. Or ridiculous. Or simply avoidable, because Auburn might not be Alabama, but Auburn should never be the sort of program that allows 63 points at home to anyone, whether Texas A&M, the Crimson Tide, Oregon and so on.

The 63-21 loss to A&M stands as the low point of Gene Chizik's tenure with the program. What, you didn't think Auburn could get any lower?

The 63 points allowed are the most Auburn has ever given up during SEC play. The SEC was founded in 1933 â?? so it's been a while. The 671 yards allowed was the most in program history, SEC play or otherwise. A&M had 38 first downs, converted 9-of-11 third downs and averaged 8.2 yards per play.

Auburn was shellacked. The Tigers were trounced. The Tigers were trounced so badly, in fact, that you're left with only one question:

Is there any way in the world that this program can bring back Chizik in 2013? I mean, any way at all?

Heading into Saturday, you could make an argument in either direction. If you wanted Chizik gone, you could point to the team's 1-6 start, the loss to Vanderbilt, the poor play nearly throughout. On the other hand, you could say that Auburn was still playing hard for its embattled coach.

Did Auburn give 100 percent against Texas A&M? Hmmm.

Regardless, Texas A&M just came into Jordan-Hare Stadium and destroyed Auburn, annihilating a team just two years removed from a national championship. How far has this program fallen? From the top to the bottom.

Here's another way to rephrase the $1 million question: Does Auburn think that Chizik can take Auburn from the bottom back to the top?